===Horse Archery===
It appears that archery was not performed in Britain from horseback but it might have been done in France and the rest of mainland Europe. Byzantium warriors were known to ride backwards while shooting (Nicolle 1984).
== Catalogue of evidence==
'''Art'''<br>
*
<gallery mode=Packed heights=120px style="Padding-left:30px; text-align:left;">
</gallery>
'''Literature'''<br>
* Capitulary of Charlemeigne, Mobilization alert: Aachen, mid-April 806
::Each horseman is to carry shield and spear, long-sword and short-sword, '''bow, quivers and arrows''', and your carts are to contain implements of various kinds” [King 2007]
* Beowulf – Written c.1000 [Garnet 1912]
:* Lines 1432-1435
::“The prince of the Geats
::With, his '''arrowed bow'''deprived one of life,
::Of strife with the sea, so that stood in his vitals
::'''The hard war-arrow''' : he was in the holm”
:* Lines 1744-1746
::“Who from '''arrowed bow spitefully shoots'''.
::Then is he in his breast pierced under his helmet
::With a '''sharp arrow''' : he cannot defend him”
:*Lines 1765
::“Or grip of the sword, or '''flight of the arrow'''.”
:*Lines 2437-2439
::“Since him did Haethcyn from his horned bow,
::His own dear lord, with arrow pierce,
::Missed he the mark and his kinsman did shoot,”
:*Lines 3115
::“Him who oft awaited the iron-shower,
::When the storm of arrows, loosed from the strings,
::Leaped over the shield-wall, the shaft did its duty,
::Fitted with feathers followed the barb."
*Life of St Guthlac [Goodwin 1948: p.29]
::“that he might wound the hearts of men therewith, suddenly, as from a bended bow, he fixed the dart of his temptation in the soul of Christ’s soldier. When, therefore, the blessed man was wounded with the poisoned arrow of the accursed spirit,….. Thus had the devilish arrow wounded him with desperation”
::“and lo ! this same thorn, as an arrow speeds from the bow, so did it fly from the man, and go to a distance;”
* Anglo-Saxon Chronicle [Ingram 1912]
:*Battle of Brumby AD 938
::there lay many
::of the Northern heroes
::under a shower of arrows,
::shot over shields;
:*AD 1083
::The Frenchmen broke into the choir, and hurled their weapons toward the altar, where the monks were; and some of the knights went upon the upper floor, (103) and shot their arrows downward incessantly toward the sanctuary; so that on the crucifix that stood above the altar they stuck many arrows. And the wretched monks lay about the altar, and some crept under, and earnestly called upon God, imploring his mercy, since they could not obtain any at the hands of men. What can we say, but that they continued to shoot their arrows; whilst the others broke down the doors, and came in, and slew (104) some of the monks to death,
* Battle of Maldon AD 901 – Written? [Killings 1996]
:*Lines 70-71
::“nor might any harm the other unless through an arrow's flight death receive.”
:*Lines 107-110
::“On Earth was the battlecry.
::They then sent forth from their hands shafts hard as file,
::murderously sharpened spears flew.
::Bows were busily at work, shields received spears.”
:*Lines 265-272
::“Thus the hostage himself willingly helped;
::he was a Northumbrian of a brave family,
::Ecglaf's child; he was named Aescferth.
::He hesitated not at the play of battle,
::but shot forward many arrows;
::here striking a shield, there cutting down a warrior,
::at almost every moment giving out some wound,
::all the while with his weapon he would wield.”
*Song of Roland [Bacon 1914]
:*Verse 62
::" Give me the bow that in thy hand thou evermore dost bear.
::That no man shall reproach me that I dropped it, I deem well.
:*Verse 63
::The bow which thou hast offered give now into his hand….
::And the King gave it over, and Roland took the bow. [Bacon P.30]
:*Verse 162
::And many a feathered arrow and many a lance and spear.
::They pierced and rent his buckler, and made havoc of his gear. [p.91]
:*Verse 170
::Farther than crossbow shoots the bolt into the land of Spain [P.95]
*Poetic Edda - Rígsþula, The Lay of Rig – Written? [Ashliman 2010]
:*Verse 21
::There was the husband, string a-twining,
::shafting arrows and shaping bows:
:*Verse 27
::“Grew Earl forthwith in the halls and 'gan
::to swing the shield, to fit the string,
::to bend the bow, to shaft the arrow,
::to hurl the dart, to shake the spear,
::to ride the horse, to loose the hounds,
::to draw the sword, and to swim the stream.”
:*Verse 35
::“Young King rode once through thicket and wood,
::shooting arrows and slaying birds,”
*Master Wace, The Chronicle of the Norman Conquest [Taylor 1837]
:* HOW THE KING OF FRANCE CAME AGAIN AGAINST DUKE WILLIAM, AND WAS DEFEATED AT VARAVILLE.
::“Then began a fierce melée, and many a stroke of lance and sword. The knights struck with their lances, the archers shot from their bows, and the villains attacked with their pikes; “ [p.60]
:* HOW KING EDWARD DIED, AND HAROLD WAS CROWNED IN HIS STEAD; AND HOW DUKE WILLIAM TOOK COUNSEL AGAINST HIM.
::The duke was in his park at Rouen. He held in his hand a bow, which he had strung and bent, making it ready for the arrow; and he had given it into the hands of a page, for he was going forth [p.94]
:* HOW THE DUKE AND HIS HOST LANDED NEAR TO HASTINGS, AND MADE THEMSELVES A FORT.
::The archers came forth, and touched land the foremost; each with his bow bent, and his quiver full of arrows slung at his side. All were shaven and shorn, and all clad in short garments, ready to attack, to shoot, to wheel about and skirmish. [p.127]
:* HOW BOTH HOSTS PASSED THE NIGHT AND MADE READY FOR BATTLE; AND HOW THE DUKE EXHORTED HIS MEN.
::The duke and his men tried no further negotiation, but returned to their tents, sure of fighting on the morrow. Then men were to be seen on every side straightening lances, fitting hauberks and helmets; making ready the saddles and stirrups; filling the quivers, stringing the bows, and making all ready for the battle. [p.155]
:* WHO WAS CHOSEN TO BEAR THE DUKE'S GONFANON IN THE BATTLE.
::the men on foot were well equipped, each bearing bow and sword: on their heads were caps (‘Gueldon’ – hoods?), and to their feet were bound buskins (‘Panels’). Some had good hides which they had bound round their bodies; and many were clad in frocks (‘Gambais’), and had quivers and bows hung to their girdles….. Those on foot led the way, with serried ranks, bearing their bows. The knights rode next, supporting the archers from behind. [p.171-172]
:* HOW THE THREE NORMAN COMPANIES MOVED ON TO ATTACK THE ENGLISH
::bows and barbed arrows that are swift, and fly fleeter than the swallow." [p.181]
men ranging themselves in line, lifting their shields, raising their lances, bending their bows, handling their arrows, ready for assault and for defence. [p.186]
:* HOW THE ARCHERS SMOTE HAROLD'S EYE; AND WHAT STRATAGEM THE NORMANS USED.
::The Norman archers with their bows shot thickly upon the English; but they covered themselves with their shields, so that the arrows could not reach their bodies, nor do any mischief, how true soever was their aim, or however well they shot. Then the Normans determined to shoot their arrows upwards into the air, so that they might fall on their enemies' heads, and strike their faces. The archers adopted this scheme, and shot up into the air towards the English; and the arrows in falling struck their heads and faces, and put out the eyes of many; and all feared to open their eyes, or leave their faces unguarded. [p.197-198]
'''Archaeology'''<br>
see [[Bows and Arrow Shafts found in Western Europe]] <br>
''Other finds:''<br>
Nydem, Vimose and Kragehul, Denmark bog finds also had bows and arrows.<br>
<br>
== References ==
